Fresolo daughter charged with role in Worcester shooting

Tuesday

Jul 15, 2014 at 2:22 PMJul 15, 2014 at 8:11 PM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — The daughter of former state Rep. John P. Fresolo was held without bail today after she was arraigned for her alleged involvement in the shooting of a man Monday night in Worcester. Authorities are calling the shooting an attempted drug robbery.

Francesca Fresolo, 21, of 19 Sturgis St. allegedly was the driver of a vehicle involved in the confrontation, according to police. The shooter, a man, has not been apprehended.

According to a police report on file in Central District Court, Ms. Fresolo admitted to police that "she set up the victim so that she could rob him of 2 pounds of marijuana."

Officers responded to Grand View Avenue about 5:45 p.m. yesterday on a report of a gunshot victim. They found a 19-year-old man with a gunshot wound in his lower body, police said in a news release.

"The victim told police that he was walking in the area of Greenwood Street by Forsberg Street when he was assaulted and shot by an unknown suspect," police said.

Court records said the man was shot in the left thigh and groin and was taken to a hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, and he is in stable condition, according to police.

The victim reportedly told police that a light-skinned black or Hispanic male wearing a gray hooded sweat shirt and black mask attacked him with a sliver handgun.

Investigators, however, said they believe the victim was not truthful about what happened. Detectives learned the victim and suspect knew each other.

Detectives learned through witnesses and surveillance video that the shooting occurred in the rear of 180 Greenwood St., the American Legion Post. Police also obtained information about a suspect vehicle.

Police eventually located the alleged driver, identified as Ms. Fresolo.

During her interview with police, Ms. Fresolo allegedly told police she obtained the help of an "unnamed suspect" to help with the robbery. The investigation is ongoing.

Ms. Fresolo was held without bail until Friday, when a dangerousness hearing will take place. She was charged under a joint venture theory with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery and armed assault to murder, and pleaded not guilty.

Ms. Fresolo was charged in court last year on possession of marijuana and other drug charges. Some of the charges were dropped when marijuana possession was decriminalized. She was ordered to pay court costs.

Her defense lawyer, Peter L. Ettenberg, said he hopes to persuade a judge Friday to release his client as the case continues in court. He said Ms. Fresolo has a strong family support system and ties to the community.

"I don't know all of the circumstances," he said. "I certainly think it is unfortunate that she finds herself in this situation, and hopefully once we have completed all of our investigation we will be able to come to some satisfactory resolution."

Mr. Fresolo resigned from the House of Representatives last year amid an ethics investigation. The Worcester Democrat served 15 years on Beacon Hill.